Pneumatic tire.



l. J. WEBSTER.

Y PNEUMATIC TIRE. APPLICATION men 0012:, 1914.

LMQfiW, PatentedAug. 3,1915.

WI T/VESSES IN VEIV TOR ATTORNEYS ED @TATES FATEWE if? IRA J. WEBSTER, Of L'AVERHILL. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 RELIANCE A. C. COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01? NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

To all LU/1.07M. it may concern:

.Be it known that I, In. J. Wnns'rnn, a citizen of the Ifnited States, residing at Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of lilassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tires, and with respect to its more specific features, to pneumatictubes adapted to be utilized in or as tires. I

One of the objects of the invention s the provision of a pneumatic tire offering a relatively high resistance to puncture andadapted to auton'iatically operate to close or seal punctures.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a durable tire of the character describedof a simple and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an el'licient pneumatic tire of the character described which shall be relatively light in weight, and yet retain the qualities of resistance to puncture and the automatic closing of punctures :.1s1'et errcd to. ()ther objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination oi elements and arrangen'ient oi parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein-' illustrates the tire or tube after having been reversed and inflated.- Fig. 1, is a. -plan of a portion of the tire o'r tube partly broken away. Fig. 5, is a plan similar to ljig. l, but illustrating a modification of the inven tion. Fig. 6, isa longitudinal section of a portion of the tire or tube shown in Fig. 3, but enlarged for clearer disclosure, and Fig.

7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, butillustrating a modified arrangement of the threads.

The tire forming the subjcctmatter of the present invention is so constructed that when in use a portion of the material composing the same is placed under compression, Pneumatic tires are usually made of rubber, and when the same are inflated, portions thereof usually assume a curved or arcuate form. if the material of the tire is unrestrained under the influence of the pressure-fol inflation it is placed in a state of tension and it follows that such material when perforated under such condition has a tendency to separate at the punctured point. Thus the puncture has a tendency to enlarge. ever, a portion of the tire is placed under compression upon inflation and the 00111- pressed part not only tends to resist puncture to a greater degree than a tire entirely under tension, but also the part under compression automatically operates to close a puncture made therein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tire or an inner tube which may form a part of a tire, as the case may be, of elastic material, rubber-being preferred, and preferably also a portion of this tube is thickened as at 2, said thickened portion being disposed opposite. the tread portion of the tire and also providing ample material for the incorporation and cooperation of threads, hereinafter referred to, which threads are employed for elliciently obtaining and retaining the compression referred to.

The numerals ll, 3 indicate a series of members, or elements, which are so associated with the tire or tube as to cause portions thereof to be compressed when the tire or tnbeis inflated. Although non-extensible members-might be employed in some instances, and are. within the plni-view of this invention, members having'some degree of extensibility possess distinct advantages in relation to the invention. llencc in the embodiments.h rein specifically disclosed these members are provided by practically inelastic threads of cord or twine, the same having some natural extensibility and having, sulli cient tensile strength to withstand the strains of inflation or the strains in use without parting where they extend transversely of the tire. in Lhe present embodiment, the

By the present invention, howthreads 3, 3, are embedded in the rubberof the tire adjacent the edges, as at 4-, 4, o'f l the tread portion thereof, and they extend transversely of the tire opposite said'tread portion, and preferably are also embedded in the tire opposite said tread portion, so that in the embodiment illustrated, said threads are embedded in the tire throughout their length and throughout the width of the tread. These threads are so disposed relatively to each other as to permit the material. the tire to contact therewith throughout the length of the thread at all embedded points, this result being facilitated by spacing the adjacent threads relatively to each other longitudinally of the tire, the material of the tire entering into the spaces between the adjacent threads and serving to preserve their spaced'relationship. The threads 3, 3, may be drawn through an adhesive substance before being placed in the tire, said substance serving to assist in retaining the threads in position.

The threads 3 may be separate and independent threads as illustrated in Fig. 5, but it is found that particular advantages are obtained when the threads are comprised in a continuous folded thread, as exemplified clearly in Fig. 4, under which-circumstances the transverse thread elements 3, 3, Wlll be the plies of such foldedthread; The ends of the plies, which in the preferred embodiancnt illustrated are comprised in the folds connecting the adjacent plies, are preferably located adjacent the edges of the tread of the tire and are embedded-in the rubber adjacent said edges, preferably somewhat deeper than are the intermediate portions, said intermediate portions lying nearer the outer surface of the tire. In this way all the tire compressing threads are securel retained opposite the tread portion and are buried in the tread to such an extent as not to be exposed to wear. By reason of the ends of the threads being longitudinally separated from the ends of adjacent threads, it fol.- lows that should suihcient wear take place to expose the ends of certain threads, any separation ofsuch exposed ends from the rubber material of the tire would not affect the ends of adjacent threads. Hence, if the end of one thread Were-peeled from the tire, the peeling of adjacent threads would not necessarily follow. This advantage is a substantial' one as the lasting qualities of the .tire aremore or less dependent thereon.

{The tire or tube above described may be made in any suitable manner which will effect the objects sought. In Fig. 1 is shown a cylindrical mandrel-5, on which the rubber tube or tire may be built up by successive layers or portions .of rubber vulcanized to each other so as to present a practically integral structure. After some thickness has been attained the continuous thread referred to may be laid in. position, whereupon additional layers of rubber are placed inposithe mandrel signed to be opposite the tread portion of the tire. The tube so made is stripped from and turned inside out, whereupon it when not inflated may assume a shape such as shown in Fig. 2. It is then ready to be inflated, and when inflated the transversely disposed threads cause the material or rubber of the tube to be placed under compression on the inside as between the points 6 and 7, around the tire at the thickened portion. The amount of compression will of course depend more or less upon the transverse curvature of the the, but in any case, suflicient compression may be obtained so that the compressed portion will resist puncture to a greater degree than the unportion, the material thereof will expand,

thus automatically closing or sealing the puncture. The plane occupied by the threads may be at any radial point in the thickness of the tire or tube, but is preferably somewhat farther from the inner than the outer surface, so as to provide on the inside ample volume of rubber to be compressed. On account of the fact that the tread of the tire has a tendency to wear more qui klyLadjacent the edges, the ends of the threads may be embedded'somewhat deeper adjacent said edges as previously referred to.. Some of the advantages of the invention may be attained when the threads are embedded at their ends or folded portions of one thread the intermediate portions lying on the surface of the tube, as for instance illustrated at 8 in Fig. 7, but it is be lieved better results are secured when the threads are embedded: throughout their length transversely of the tire. Then the claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is -1. In a pneumatic tire, in combination,

an elastic tread portion, and a folded tire compressing thread the plies of which lie transversely of the tire opposite said tread portion, a portion of said thread being emedded in the tire, and incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

2. In a pneumatic tire, in combination,

an elastic tread p'ortiomanc a folded tire compressing thread the-plies of which lie transversely of the tire opposite said tread portion, said plies being wholly embedded in the tire, and said thread being incorporated with the tread so as tocause compression of the tread portion when. the tire 's in an inflated condition.

3. In a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic tread portion, and a folded tire com iressing thread the plies of which lie transversely of the tire opposite said tread portion, the necting adjacent plies being embedded in the tire, and said thread being" incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression the portion when the tire is in an inliated condition.

bination, a rubber tube having a thickened portion opposite the tread, and a folded tire compressing thread the plies of which are embedded, in said thickened portion at their ends and lie transversely of the tire o p positc said tread, said thread being incor- 1.:oratcd with the tread so as to cause comn'cssion of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition. I

5. A. pneumatic tire comprising, in combination, a rubber tube having a thickened portion opposite the tread, and a folded tire compressing thread the plies of which are embedded in said thickened portion thrmighout their lengths and lie transversely of the tire opposite said tread, the ends of said plies being more deeply embedded than their intermediate portions, and said thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

6. in a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic tread portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements op 'aositc said tread portion, a portion of said threads being embedded. in the tire, said threads being so disposed as to permit the material of the tire to contact therewith a all. embedded points, and incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread. portion when the tire is in an inflated conch ti on.

T. In a pnciunatic tire, in combination,

an elastic tread. portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite saidtroud portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other longitudinally of the tire and having portions embedded in the tire, said thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression oi the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

8. in a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic tread portion, and transversely portions of said thread con-' pneumatic tire comprising, in com disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite said tread portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other longitudinally of the tire and having portions embedded in the tire adjacent the sides of the tread, said thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition. y .9. In a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic tread portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite said tread portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other longitudinally-of the tire and having portions embedded in the tire between the sides of the tread, said thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition. F

10. In a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic tread portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite said tread portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other longitudinally of the tire and having portions embedded in the tire throughout the width of the tread, said: thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression 'of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

11. In a pneumatic tire, in combination, an elastic, tread portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite said tread portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other 1ongitudinally of the tire, a plurality of said threads comprising parts of a continuous folded th'ii ead having portions embedded in the tire,"; said thread being incorporated with the tread scans to cause compression of the tread portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

12. In a pneumatic tire, in combination,

an elastic tread portion, and transversely disposed tire compressing thread elements opposite said tread portion, adjacent threads being spaced from each other longitudinally of the tire, a plurality of said threads comprising parts of a continuous folded thread, the folds connecting the ad jaccnt threads being embedded in the tire,

and said thread being incorporated with the tread so as to cause compression of the tread. portion when the tire is in an inflated condition.

In testimony whereof I ,a'flix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

IRA J. WEBSTER. ./Vitnesses JUosoN ll. VVncs'rnn, Hnnminr W. lVnIeu'r. 

